39th annual All Membership Show opens at Art Center of Corpus Christi

Elizabeth Reese /Special to the Caller-Times
"Dream Mill" by Duane Webb is depicted so that each blade looks as if it could be pulled from the work and made into it's own abstract expressionist work. This work and others are on view at the Art Center of Corpus Christi.

Elizabeth Reese /Special to the Caller-Times
Over 100 regional artists submitted works of art for the Art Center of Corpus Christi's 39th Annual All Membership Show. The styles and media are vast.

Elizabeth Reese /Special to the Caller-Times
This work by Becky Smith uses mixed media incorporating computer graphics with photographs with various types of paints over different textures. Over 100 regional artists submitted work for the 39th Annual All Membership Show.

CORPUS CHRISTI - Last night the Art Center of Corpus Christi opened its 39th annual All Membership Show. On view through March 4, the presentation features artwork in numerous media, styles and price ranges. With Valentine's Day coming next week, you could find original gifts filled with creative expressions.

Upon entering the Meadows Gallery you may feel visually surprised by the number and variety of work on view. With walls and sculpture pedestals filling the space in an almost overwhelming number, it is no doubt a quality problem to have over 100 regional artists with works on display.

One of the first qualities I notice are the diverse media and subject used by local artists. There are numerous traditional oil paintings of landscapes including ranches, farms and seascapes. Several large paintings of waves reveal the waves in between state of inhaling and exhaling, much like the artist seems to be in between realism and more abstract depictions.

A painting that caught my attention is a playful depiction of a windmill. While I will confess that windmills are not my typical magnetizing genre, this one reminds me of the "Windmill Game" my kids and I play on road trips where the person who spots the most windmills "wins."

"Dream Mill" by Duane Webb features a rather realistic depiction of the structure of the mill including the tower, nacelle and hub or head of the turbine. This part of the work is illustrated in a dark, almost silhouette manner. The rotor blades or fans, however, are full of movement and play with primary colors mixing and moving. Each blade looks as if it could be pulled from the work and made into it's own abstract expressionist work.

In contrast to this playful piece, across the gallery is a surreal work by Becky Smith. This multimedia work depicts a partially clothed, avatar-looking figure. The work is clearly mixed media and appears to incorporate computer graphics with photographs with various types of paints over different textures.

The figure stands off-center gazing at us without really holding our eyes. Holding a beautiful, delicious-looking apple that is partially deep red and partially frozen-silver in her right hand creates a dramatic focal point. Is this a 2012 version of Eve? What does the apple represent here?

The exhibition was juried by Ken Rosier, Art & Drama Department Chair at Del Mar College. The winner receives the opportunity to present a solo exhibition the following year. This exhibition is one of the many ways the Art Center of Corpus Christi has promoted arts and culture on the Coastal Bend for 40 years.IF YOU GO